World Cup Soccer II: To Whom Shall We Go?

Not in The Mailbag:

Now that the U.S. is eliminated from the World Cup, who will win? Whom do you want to win?

First, congratulations on using "whom" properly.

It's hard not to like Brazil if you're betting.

If you're going with spirit and heart, it's got to be Argentina, and they've got my vuvuzela in their corner.  (Can we just say here and now that that "instrument" emerges from the bottomless pit and is a cause for just war?  It bypasses "spirited" and goes straight for "obnoxious.")

The match in this round I most want to watch is Spain and Portugal.

Surprisingly methodical ball-control wizards: Japan.

Gothic moment: England choking.  It's got to be tense for Fabio Capello: their performance was dreadful.